Water scarcity is Sac State exhibit topic

In many parts of the world, drinkable water is a precious commodity – nowhere more so than in Ethiopia.

Artifacts from that African nation are on display in the exhibit “Weha Lahulume (Water for All)” in Sacramento State’s Anthropology Museum, Mendocino Hall 1000, through Friday, Dec. 7.

Many items in the student-curated show come from members of the local Ethiopian community. And the exhibit is more than just a display – it serves as a fundraiser to help drill new wells in Ethiopia, says Professor Raghu Trichur, chair of the Anthropology Department.

For the past few months, the students have worked closely with WaterAid, a non-governmental organization focused on providing access to water worldwide, to help create the exhibit.

A Nov. 19 reception was attended by officials from the local Ethiopian Community Center, including President Eskinder Tadesse and Berhanu Zergaw, co-founder and president of Journey of Light.

The exhibit is part of Sacramento State’s One World Initiative, a cross-discipline project that has involved the entire campus in the study of water issues.

The exhibit is free. Gallery hours are noon-3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

For more information, call the Anthropology Department at (916) 278-6339. For media assistance, call Sacramento State’s Public Affairs office at (916) 278-6156.